Garment



3,193. c. H. FLECK 2574555 GARMENT l Filed sept. 7, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 2 3mm CHRIST/A N H. LEE/4 Patented Qct. 3, 1939 'rsN'r ori-is GARMENT Christian H. Fleck, Jackson, Mich., ass'ignor to S. H. Camp & Company, Jackson, Mich., a corporation ofV Michigan Application September 7 1 Claim.

This invention relates to surgical garments and more particularly to a composite surgical garment for groin and thigh control designed for post-operative, pendulous abdomen and sacroiliac and general wear support.

In the usual garment of the above type wherein the lower edge is at the groin line when used by fleshy individuals surplus fiesh bulges out at the lower edge. The present invention., byv associat-- l0 ing an overlapping skirt portion, which in no way interferes with the normal supporting features of the garment, overcomes the diiiiculty experienced as above described and at the same time provides an improved under abdominal and thigh line support.

An object of the invention is to provide a garment structure for giving smoother body lines.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new under-abdominal support andV thighcontrol garment.`

A further object of the invention is to provide a composite surgical garment for groin and thigh control having an overlying skirt portion which smooths out body lines and gives thigh control, yet, at the same time, is so constructed asrto function independently of and without interference with proper groin support.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following specification when taken with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is an inside View of the invention Fig. 2 is an outside view of a portion of Fig. 1 particularly disclosing the skirt, and

Fig. 3 is an outside view similar to that of Fig.

the invention.

Referring particularly to the drawings the reference character I indicates the center front or abdominal supporting portion or occupancy surface of the garment which is provided at one side with a plurality of fastening hooks 2 for engagement with the fastening eyes 3. As shown in Fig. l the fastening eyes 3 are protected from the body of the wearer by a soft strip 4. The top of the portion I comprises two elastic sections 5 anchored at their ends but separated from the fabric panels 6 of section I. It will be observed that the top edges of the panels 6 are loose and of sucient width to permit the elastic sections 5 to give release. The front portion I of the garment comprises a continuation of side portions l which are of generally the same depth as the front portion I and merge with the rear portion 8. The top edge of the rear portion 8 comprises a continuation of the side portions l,

2 disclosing the skirt of another embodiment ofV 1937, Serial No. 162,580

the lower edge of the rear portion B, however, extending considerably below the lower extremity of the side portions` I to a point substantially below the level of the groin region. Attached to the side portions 'I and the lower side edges 9 of 5t the rear portion 8 are skirts Ill. As disclosed particularly in Figs. l and 2 the top edges of the skirts II) are of the same Width as the side portions 'land are secured approximately half way up the side portions l and to each side of the 10 side portions' 1. It should be observed, however, that sections II of the lower forward edges of the side portions 'I are free from the skirts i8, the skirts I) being narrowed along the curved edge IFJ and fiared'out at Ill so that the lower corners 151 I" of the skirts IIJ are in substantial vertical alignment with the forward edges of the side'portions l.. lAs the lower' edges ofthe side`por' tions l'f'in' which the gussets I24 are located is below the point of attachment between the' skirts"v 20 I0 and the sections II and thus free from the skirts I0, release along this edge preventing binding is made possible. The side portions 'I are reinforced for lateral tension by reinforcing strips I3. Hose supporters I4 are slidably 25 mounted on adjustable straps I5 each mounted at one end to the forward edge of a side portion 'I and at the other end to the corner I'" of a skirt I0. Hose supporters I6 are slidably mounted on adjustable straps Il, the ends of 80 which are mounted on spaced parts of the rear portions 8. The two back portions 8 are connected by lacing I8 of any usual style. Adjusting straps I9 and I9 are connected to the lacing I8` in any standard manner by means of running adjustment buckles 20, the adjustment straps I9 and I9 being secured to the garment at the intersections of side portions 'I and the rear portions 8. It is to be noted that the straps I9 act to give groin line support to that portion of 40 the garment just above the gussets I2 and in the locality of the reinforcements I3.

When the garment is placed in position on the wearer and the hooks 2 engage with the eyes 3, it is tightened by taking up the free ends of the adjustment straps through the running adjustment buckles 20, drawing the halves` of the reargportions 8 together. The hose supporters I4 and I S when secured to the wearers hose hold the garment down and the skirts IIJ against the body. The arrangement of the skirts IG in the garment are such that they in no way interfere with the proper groin support yet at the same time the skirts overlie that portion of the garment through which the supporting action along the groin line is exerted, smoothing out the body lines at this point, and extending below to give thigh control.

Fig. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein the structure is substantially the same as that disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 with the exception of the adjusting straps I9 and I9 and the relation between the side portions and skirts. The adjusting straps I9 and I9 are secured to the garment at the forward edges of the side portions 1 instead of the rear edges. The lower adjusting straps I9 are secured to the garment between the skirts 25 and the side portions 26. To bring these straps to the outside of the garment, openings 21 are provided in the skirts 25 through which they pass. In order to distribute the tension of the lower adjusting strap I9 over a wider portion of the garment, it is secured to a flared portion 28 which is in turn secured to the garment. With respect to the relation between the side portions and skirts the skirts 25 are of greater width adjacent their lower portions than the overlapping portions of the side portions 26. This greater width permits a greater release by virtue of the gusset 28 than is obtained in the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. l and 2 wherein the skirts l0 and the side portions 1 are of equal width at their overlapping areas. Otherwise the structure and operation of the garment disclosed in Fig. 3 is the same as that disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2.

Having thus described my invention what I desire to protect by Letters Patent and claim is:

A composite type garment for giving under abdominal uplift and thigh control characterized by its smooth contouring effect from the thigh upwardly through the groin line comprising an abdominal supporting and uplifting front portion, rear portions in spaced relation, side portions connecting said front and rear portions, said front, side and rear portions having the top edges thereof in substantial alignment, adjustable lacing connecting said rear portions, tension strap portions connected to opposite sides of the lower part of said front portion and extending across said side portions, said strap portions having adjustment portions engaging with said lacing for imparting an under abdominal uplift and support to said front portion with the lateral tension of adjustment through said strap portions being across upper groin line, the lower edges of said side portions extending from opposite sides of the lower edge portions of said front portion across groin line to join said rear portions above the lower edges thereof but below the line of tension of said strap portions, skirt portions attached to said side portions along their upper edges on the outside of the garment substantially above the lower edges of said side portions, as well as above the line of lateral tension of said strap portions through said side portions, the sides of said skirt portions being connected to the sides of said front and rear portions with the lower edges of said skirt portion in substantial alignment with the lower edges of said rear portions, said skirt portions being free from and freely overlying the lower edges of said side portions and the zone of lateral tension through said side portions, and hose supporting structure having support-straps connected to said skirt portions to tension said skirt portions over the wearers thigh to give thigh control and to tension said skirt portions to smooth out the contour line of the garment throughout that portion of the side portions over which said skirt portions freely lie without restricting the lateral tension through said side portions to said front portions thereby giving under abdominal sup port and uplift.

CI-DtISTIAN H. FLECK.

CIK 

